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State investigates dad raising kids on boat under construction

Randy Ellis is shown in front of a boat he is building on a piece of land just outside New Smyrna Beach. He is living there with his two young children. The Department of Children & Families placed the children with their mother after deputies called the living conditions deplorable. Neighbors say he cares for his children and they're happy with their father.

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 4:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 9:50 p.m.

In the home Randy Ellis shares with his son and daughter, the youngsters are taught about the Bible, the alphabet, the stars and the planets, being kind to others and love and compassion.

Ellis, his neighbors say, is a loving father who has taught his children the value of manners and politeness.

But last week three Volusia County sheriff's deputies showed up at Ellis' residence near New Smyrna Beach and charged the 47-year-old father with child neglect without great harm because they said the living conditions for 5-year-old Danielle Ellis and 8-year-old Sean Ellis were "deplorable."

Ellis' residence is a 25-foot-long houseboat that he has been building for the last two years on a vacant lot that belongs to neighbor and friend Mary Erb and her husband, Wayne Erb.

The vessel is held up by support beams and the interior can only be accessed by climbing a ladder.

There is no refrigerator or running water inside, but Ellis has a small sink near the front end of the vessel where his children can brush their teeth with bottled water and look at themselves in a small mirror affixed to a wall.

Electricity is supplied through an extension cord hooked up to Erb's home, and cooking is done in a small toaster oven that sits atop a makeshift shelf.

The boat is adorned with a handful of colorful crayon drawings by both Danielle and Sean. Ellis' guitar hangs from a line strung across the bow of the boat. Two small bunk beds are piled with blankets and toys.

Ellis himself sleeps at the front of the boat in a hammock-style bed. There is no TV, but there is a donated laptop computer.

The exterior of the vessel was painted by Ellis and Sean, and includes steel drums packed with foam to make it float. The walls of the boat are also filled with foam.

Near the entrance of the boat, Sean wrote a slogan in white chalk against a wall: "Action Team One — we help others in need."

"Danielle, Sean and I are Action Team One," Ellis said. "I invented that to keep them on a positive track."

In the evenings after Sean has done his homework, the 47-year-old Ellis plays guitar on the Erbs' back deck and everyone sings.

If the night sky is clear, Ellis and the kids gaze at the stars and planets with a telescope. The children made a "spider box" out of screen and wood and they watch as the arachnids spin their webs and catch their prey.

Their homestead is reminiscent of camping out in the wild, except the Ellises live in a regular neighborhood, on a regular street where children play ball, ride their bikes and adults go back and forth to jobs and the grocery store.

"The children have a wonderful life here," Ellis said last week outside his home. "I can't give them money or a mansion, but I can teach them a strong sense of right from wrong.

"If they have that, they have a fighting chance; they'll be unstoppable," he added.

It wasn't always this way.

Ellis — who has primary custody of the children — lost regular employment when the economy began teetering. He did have temporary construction work up until about three months ago. When that job ended, he moved in with his mother in Edgewater and started doing odd jobs here and there — light plumbing, light electrical and handyman work — and filling out job applications.

But his mother decided to head back to New York and Ellis could not pay the rent on the apartment she left behind so he and the children suddenly found themselves homeless.

That's when all three moved into Ellis' houseboat on a piece of land owned by the Erbs.

Mary Erb said she has known Ellis for several years because he is a friend of the Erbs' son, Neil. Mary Erb said she has no doubt that Ellis loves his children and is leading them down the right path.

The day the deputies showed up at the houseboat and called the children's mother, Margaret Pepper, Mary Erb, her sister-in-law Glenda Snell and other neighbors begged the deputies to leave Danielle and Sean with their father. Deputy Brian Calkins noted that on his report.

"Even though his situation is not the best in the world, he is doing the best he can," Mary Erb said Monday. "The day the deputies came here, he was out looking for a job and he asked me to watch Danielle for 30 minutes."

Mary Erb said Danielle and Sean are "extremely close" and the children could not bear being apart. Right now they're staying with their mother in Oak Hill while the Department of Children & Families looks into the case.

According to Mary Erb, there are at least four houses on the street — including hers and Snell's — where the families are willing to take in the Ellis children if necessary.

John Harrell, a spokesman with DCF, said Monday the agency does not normally remove children from a residence — even one like Ellis' — unless they are suffering from abuse or neglect and are in "extreme danger."

"In a situation like the one you described, DCF usually suggests services for the family," Harrell said.

Ellis uses food stamps to provide food for the children. They have clean clothes and Mary Erb lets them shower at her house.

Ellis only has a high school education, but he says he is willing to do anything it takes to get on his feet again and provide for his children.

"My hope is to make enough money so that I can buy a piece of land and leave it to my children someday," Ellis said. "I also want to make my boat seaworthy so we can go out on the river and explore."

<p>In the home Randy Ellis shares with his son and daughter, the youngsters are taught about the Bible, the alphabet, the stars and the planets, being kind to others and love and compassion. </p><p>Ellis, his neighbors say, is a loving father who has taught his children the value of manners and politeness. </p><p>But last week three Volusia County sheriff's deputies showed up at Ellis' residence near New Smyrna Beach and charged the 47-year-old father with child neglect without great harm because they said the living conditions for 5-year-old Danielle Ellis and 8-year-old Sean Ellis were "deplorable." </p><p>Ellis' residence is a 25-foot-long houseboat that he has been building for the last two years on a vacant lot that belongs to neighbor and friend Mary Erb and her husband, Wayne Erb. </p><p>The vessel is held up by support beams and the interior can only be accessed by climbing a ladder. </p><p>There is no refrigerator or running water inside, but Ellis has a small sink near the front end of the vessel where his children can brush their teeth with bottled water and look at themselves in a small mirror affixed to a wall. </p><p>Electricity is supplied through an extension cord hooked up to Erb's home, and cooking is done in a small toaster oven that sits atop a makeshift shelf. </p><p>The boat is adorned with a handful of colorful crayon drawings by both Danielle and Sean. Ellis' guitar hangs from a line strung across the bow of the boat. Two small bunk beds are piled with blankets and toys. </p><p>Ellis himself sleeps at the front of the boat in a hammock-style bed. There is no TV, but there is a donated laptop computer. </p><p>The exterior of the vessel was painted by Ellis and Sean, and includes steel drums packed with foam to make it float. The walls of the boat are also filled with foam.</p><p> Near the entrance of the boat, Sean wrote a slogan in white chalk against a wall: "Action Team One &mdash; we help others in need." </p><p>"Danielle, Sean and I are Action Team One," Ellis said. "I invented that to keep them on a positive track." </p><p>In the evenings after Sean has done his homework, the 47-year-old Ellis plays guitar on the Erbs' back deck and everyone sings. </p><p>If the night sky is clear, Ellis and the kids gaze at the stars and planets with a telescope. The children made a "spider box" out of screen and wood and they watch as the arachnids spin their webs and catch their prey.</p><p>Their homestead is reminiscent of camping out in the wild, except the Ellises live in a regular neighborhood, on a regular street where children play ball, ride their bikes and adults go back and forth to jobs and the grocery store. </p><p>"The children have a wonderful life here," Ellis said last week outside his home. "I can't give them money or a mansion, but I can teach them a strong sense of right from wrong. </p><p>"If they have that, they have a fighting chance; they'll be unstoppable," he added.</p><p>It wasn't always this way. </p><p>Ellis &mdash; who has primary custody of the children &mdash; lost regular employment when the economy began teetering. He did have temporary construction work up until about three months ago. When that job ended, he moved in with his mother in Edgewater and started doing odd jobs here and there &mdash; light plumbing, light electrical and handyman work &mdash; and filling out job applications. </p><p>But his mother decided to head back to New York and Ellis could not pay the rent on the apartment she left behind so he and the children suddenly found themselves homeless. </p><p>That's when all three moved into Ellis' houseboat on a piece of land owned by the Erbs. </p><p>Mary Erb said she has known Ellis for several years because he is a friend of the Erbs' son, Neil. Mary Erb said she has no doubt that Ellis loves his children and is leading them down the right path. </p><p>The day the deputies showed up at the houseboat and called the children's mother, Margaret Pepper, Mary Erb, her sister-in-law Glenda Snell and other neighbors begged the deputies to leave Danielle and Sean with their father. Deputy Brian Calkins noted that on his report. </p><p>"Even though his situation is not the best in the world, he is doing the best he can," Mary Erb said Monday. "The day the deputies came here, he was out looking for a job and he asked me to watch Danielle for 30 minutes." </p><p>Mary Erb said Danielle and Sean are "extremely close" and the children could not bear being apart. Right now they're staying with their mother in Oak Hill while the Department of Children & Families looks into the case. </p><p>According to Mary Erb, there are at least four houses on the street &mdash; including hers and Snell's &mdash; where the families are willing to take in the Ellis children if necessary. </p><p>John Harrell, a spokesman with DCF, said Monday the agency does not normally remove children from a residence &mdash; even one like Ellis' &mdash; unless they are suffering from abuse or neglect and are in "extreme danger." </p><p>"In a situation like the one you described, DCF usually suggests services for the family," Harrell said. </p><p>Ellis uses food stamps to provide food for the children. They have clean clothes and Mary Erb lets them shower at her house. </p><p>Ellis only has a high school education, but he says he is willing to do anything it takes to get on his feet again and provide for his children. </p><p>"My hope is to make enough money so that I can buy a piece of land and leave it to my children someday," Ellis said. "I also want to make my boat seaworthy so we can go out on the river and explore."</p>